Photographer Sascha Niethammer’s “Flüchtige Blicke” is inspired by the use of the subway in big cities. “We’re sitting down and waiting. Then we look around and see the people, but if someone sees us, we look away again.” explains Sascha to the Phoblographer. “Sometimes we leave the subway after sitting in front of a person for 20, 30 or 40 minutes, but everything what we will remember are fragments of this person.” This project is an attempt from Sascha to try to make sense of the fragments. Unfortunately for Sascha, this project didn’t lead to him actually becoming friends with anyone he photographed.

His daily commute inspired the project, he admits that there are deeper reasons–and he cites stress. Sascha believes that our lives and cities are so advanced but that it takes the joy out of life. “It’s noisy. Everything has lights and flashes. Time’s running. An appointment follows the other.”

For this reason, “Flüchtige Blicke” is a small story that reminds us that we need to breathe sometimes.

Sascha’s intentional use of black and white is because he believes that it directs the view of the human fragments–which he’s trying to show. “On the photographs you could see the parts of the subway, the person, the reflections, the speed (because a little bit longer shutter) and the wall behind
the window.” he states. “This all color is to much! Some of the shots looks nice in color, but they don’t show the aspects focused like I want to show them.”